Garment-supporter.



No. 642,864. Patented Feb. 6, 1900. L. GONTIER.-

GARMENT SUPPOHTER.

' (Aiaplication filed Jim. 81, 1899.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

m2 non-us PEYERS ca, PNOTfi-LITHLM WASHINGTON. n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

LOUIS GONTIER, OF GLOUCESTER CITY, NEIV JERSEY.

GARMENT-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,864, dated February 6, 1900.

Applicationjdled January 31, 1899. Serial No. 703,996. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS GONTIER, of Gloucester City, in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment-Supporters, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention particularly relates to attachments for garment-supporters-such as suspenders, belts, &c.-and comprises a peculiar elastic web provided with terminal fittings, as hereinafter more definitely specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevational view showing a convenient embodiment of my invention in a suspender. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. at is a perspective view of a modified form of my invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, A is a flat rubber web slotted as indicated at A. Said slot is so proportioned and located in said web that the weakest portion of the latter is at A The effect of the peculiar slotted construction aforesaid is that although the material comprising said web may be equally elastic throughout its length the end portions thereof remain practically undisturbed by the strain upon the web, the central slotted portion only being elongated and shortened by variation in the strain upon the web. If said webA were of uniform cross-section throughout its length, the end portions thereof engaged with the links B B would be changed in form with each elongation of the web and the latter be eventually ruptured at the points of connection with said links. The abovedescribed construction is therefore advanta geous in that the life of the web is prolonged by the concentration of the strain upon it, so that the changes in its form occur only at its central slotted portion.

As shown in Fig. 1, the upper link B of the web A is directly connected with the shoulder-bands D D of a pair of suspenders, and the link B is provided with terminal buttonhole-tabs E E, preferably of leather. The

buttonholes e e are formed in said tabs E E by cutting a tongue 6' in the end of each tab and folding and cementing the same in the posi- -such construction.

tion indicated in Fig. 3. Such a construction is of obvious advantage in that the lower portion of each buttonhole is adapted to withstand the strain upon it by being reinforced by the doubled thickness of the material, which by reason of its integral connection may not be displaced by wear.

As shown in Fig. 2, the web A is composed of cemented layers of elastic material a, terminal bights being formed in said Web for engagement with the links B B. Said terminal bights are reinforced by layers of non-elastic material a, interposed between the layers of elastic material a. It is obvious, however, that said web A may be composed of a single thickness of rubber molded in connection with its terminal fittings, as indicated in Fig.4.

The precise form of the terminal links of the web A is not of the essence of my invention, and said web may be provided with terminal fittings of any convenient form to effect its attachment. In Fig. 4 I have shown said web provided with buckles B in lieu of the links B B. (Shown in Fig. 1.) Such construction is of obvious advantage where it is desired to readily detach the web A from its embodiment.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to provide elastic members with terminal fittings for embodiment in a garment-supporter, and I therefore do not desire to broadly claim I believe it to be new, however, to constructan elastic web as above described for the purpose set forth, and I therefore do not desire to limit myself to the precise proportions or arrangement of the parts which I have illustrated, as it is obvious that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim 1. An elastic web provided with terminal fittings and slotted intermediate of its length, so as to have less cross-sectional area at its central slotted portion, than at its extremities, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A web comprising distinct layers of elastic material formed with terminal bights, a layer of non-elastic material between the layers of elastic material in said terminal bights, terminal fittings in said bights, and

securing said tongue upon the body portion a slot in said web intermediate of its length,

of said tab, substantially as and for the pursnbstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. An elastic Web slotted as described, and pose set forth. provided with terminal fittings comprising a LOUIS GONTIER. 5 flexible bnttonhole-tab, and a buttonhole \Vitnesses:

formed in said tab by a tongue-shaped cut therein, said buttonhole being reinforced by ARTHUR E. PAIGE, CLIFTON C. HALLOWVELL. 

